Sunday was a cold, dreary winter January day that left plenty of time to sit in the recliner and think about the sport I love. The sound of several thousand horsepower launching off the fourth turn as the flagman waves the green flag, the smell of the exhaust that a sprint car emits as it careens around a dirt track. Dazzling colors of speeding cars dueling for position under the lights on a Saturday night at bull rings all over the country, man how I miss it…

There is nothing quite like that instant when the field is formed, entering turn four, the pace car ducks down pit road; and you know in just an instant you won’t be able to hear your own thoughts. Football on television just doesn’t cut it.

Thankfully, next Sunday I will get to kick off my racing season by experiencing all of this at Watermelon Capitol Speedway in Cordele, Georgia. The name of the event is Speedfest and is sanctioned by the Champion Racing Association (CRA). It will be a great Sunday, with 200 laps of some of the best super late model drivers in the country (including Kyle Busch and David Ragan), PLUS 150 laps of pro late model racing as well.

If you live in south Florida or Arizona, I hope you made sure to get out to Punta Gorda Speedway in Port Charlotte, Florida or to USA Raceway in Tucson, Arizona for the Wild West Shootout. Oh how sweet it would be to have the funds and ability to just travel the country, going from race track to race track; catching all the great shows. Once again, more daydreaming…. Back to the reasons!!

Another reason that I love racing is that no matter how far someone might be leading by, the race is not won until they cross under that checkered flag. You can have the field down by two laps, take the white flag and still not win the race if something goes awry. Other times a driver makes a monumental effort in the closing laps and the finish is a photo finish. There is nothing greater than two machines and drivers coming to the win side by side, sparks flying; going under the checkered flag totally out of control. And the winner is? The fans regardless of who finished first.

The finish between Ricky Craven and Kurt Busch at Darlington comes to mind. Another fantastic thought was when Geoff Bodine and NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Richie Evans used to battle it out at Martinsville.

Man is it January 29th yet?

If you can get to Cordele, Georgia next weekend, make sure to catch the show. Keep an eye out for me, I’ll be wearing a north-south shootout hoodie and carrying a small notebook. Stop by and introduce yourself, I’ll be happy to meet you!!

Until then, keep the shiny side up!

 MORE NASCAR NEWS